3dsmax: COM classes

create .NET classes
register assembly (DLL) to COM

Python:
reference:
http://techarttiki.blogspot.com/2008/03/calling-python-from-maxscript.html
http://oreilly.com/catalog/pythonwin32/chapter/ch12.html

python COM server

class PythonUtilities:
    _public_methods_ = [ 'AreaOfCircle' ]
    _reg_progid_ = "PythonDemos.Utilities"
    # NEVER copy the following ID 
    # Use "print pythoncom.CreateGuid()" to make a new one.
    _reg_clsid_ = "{968B74C1-5B12-47CE-93DF-EE2C1418A542}"


    def AreaOfCircle(self, radius):
        return 3.14159 * radius * radius

 
# Add code so that when this script is run by
# Python.exe, it self-registers.
if __name__=='__main__':
    print "Registering COM server..."
    import win32com.server.register
    win32com.server.register.UseCommandLine(PythonUtilities)

then compile and run this class...

in 3DS max > MAXScript Listener:

comObj = createOLEObject "PythonDemos.Utilities"  
a = comObj.AreaOfCircle(10)

but have to reload 3DS max whenever the COM class is changed

3dsmax: UI

-- UI
rollout addition "Addition of two numbers"
(
 -- UI elements
 edittext text1 "First number"
 edittext text2 "Second number"
 button b "Add"
 label lbl "Result"
 -- event handlers
 on b pressed do
 (
  a1 = text1.text as float
  a2 = text2.text as float
  c = a1 + a2
  lbl.text = c as string
 )
)

in MAXScript listener:

-- create a dialog 320 x 240
createDialog addition 320 240 

math operator: +, -, *, /
% = mod number1 to number 2
+=, -=, *=, /=

3dsmax: loops, array, struct, as

-- do-while loop
i = 0
do
 (
  b = box()
  b.pos.x = i * 10
  --print i
  i = i +1
 )while (i <a)

-- while loop
i = 0
while(i < a) do
 (
  print i
  i = i+1
 )

-- array
arr = #(1, 2, 3, 4)
 -- one-based index
 print arr[3]

-- struct
struct Fan
(
 -- member variables
 speed,
 radius,
 isOn,
 -- member function
 function setSpeed spd=
 (
  speed = spd
 ),
 function getSpeed=
 (
  return speed
 ),
 -- special: calling function when object is constructed
 -- can only call function AFTER it is created. eg.: setSpeed()
 speed = setSpeed(1)
)
-- initiating structure
f = Fan()
f.radius = 10
f.setSpeed(3)

-- using "as" command
str = "The fan speed is " + fan.getSpeed() as string

3ds max: MAXScript basics

comments:
-- single line comment
/* multi-line comment */

variables. simple. no need to declare. eg.: a = 3

F11 - Script listener. something like Output panel in flash. but it allows u to key in scripts directly

(.) dot operator = object properties
($) superscript = can use it to reference an object using pathname. eg.: $Sphere01.

point3 data type
eg.:

newpos = point3 10 0 0
b.pos = newpos

function parameter in any order
FunctionName keyword1:value1 keyword2:value2

5 /9 = 0. so if need decimal place, must use 5.0/9 or 5 / 9.0 or 5.0 / 9.0

custom function:

function celsiusToFahrenheit celsius =
(
 fah = 5.0/9 * (celsius - 32)
 return fah
)

returns fah automatically if without 'return fah'

pass by value default
pass by reference using (&) symbol

if-then-else
eg.:

if(zz > 100) then messagebox "hot"

example 2

function testIF a=
(
 if(a > 0) then
 (
  messagebox "more than zero"
 )
 else if(a == 0) then
 (
  messagebox "equal to zero"
 )
 else
 (
  messagebox "less than zero"
 )
)

and, or operator. literally use "and" and "or"

for loop
eg.:

function testFor a=
(
 for i=1 to a do
 (
  b = box()
  b.pos.x = i * 10
 )
)

do-while loop
do
(
statements(s)
)
while(conditions)

while-do loop
while(conditions) do
(
statement(s)
)